Velocipede



(No Model.)

- G. M. POWELL.

VBLOGIPBDE. l Y No..365,488. Patented June 28', 1887.'

jig.' e.

WITNESSES:

N. Pneus, mmmhognpher. wuhingm. uV a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MAY POWELL, OE NEWFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

-VELOC|PEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 365,488, dated June 28, 1887.

^ 'l Application filed Septembrrl, |856. Serial No. 214,037. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Y Be it known that I, GEORGE MAY POWELL, a citizen of the United States, formerly residing at Vineland, in thecounty of Cumberland, State of NeWJersey, now residing at Newfeld, in the county of Gloucester, State of New Jersey, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes, whichk improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of a velocipede embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents an end View thereof. Fig. 3 represents atop or plan view thereof. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of means for operating the crank shaft. Fig. 5 represents the mode Ot' lengthening or shortening the crank-shaft for adjusting the width or'gage of the velocipede. Figs. and 7 represent, respectively, side and t'op views of a chair-seat and supporting portions of the frame. Fig. 8 represents a Verticaljsection ofajournal-bearing of one of the shafts ofthe vel'ocipede. Fig. 9 represents a section of the tread of one of the wheels.

Similar letters of reference indicatecorre sponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of several novel distinct features inv the class of velocipedes or bicycles, as will be hereinafter Afully set forth and definitely claimed.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of a velocipede, generally known as a tricyele, having a crank-shaft, B, mounted thereon, to which shaft the front wheels, C, are firmly attached. Rising from the frame A are arches D E F, which are located on the center and ends of said frame, the crown of the arch D forming a bearing for the shaft G, to which the steering-wheel H is secu red,said shaft having connected with it the bifurcated tillerarm J, which is located convenient to the riders seat K, which, as will be seen, is supported on a spring or spring-plate, L, whose ends have downwardly-proj ecting forked lugs L', adapted to embrace the crowns of the arches E F and be secured thereto. Secured to the sides ofthe front of the frame A are coiled springs M, to the ends of which,within the coil,is attached a seat, N, which, owing to its support on said springs M, is of an easyriding nature. l

l? represents treadles,which have-their rear ends mounted on the frame A and their front ends located below the crankshaft B, so as to be reached by the occupantof the seat N, said treadles being connected with the said shaft by means of arms Q. Then the occupant of the seat N does not desire to operate or assist to operate the velocipede, the arms Q are removedfrom the crank-shaft and hung on the adjacent end of the frame A, whereby the treadles l? form convenient' foot-rests for said person.

y The veloci pede is operated by the occupant of the seat K fby means of straps Rfof leather, 8vo., having foot-pieces thereon. vThe ends of the said straps are attached to the crank-shaft B and end ot' the fralne A, respectively, said straps acting as treadles, and are ot'such length that during rotation of the crank-shaft one of the straps tightens as the crank to which it is attached advances,aud may then be depressed, while the other strap slackens as the crank to which it is attached returns, the straps thus alternately tightening and slackening,and produce convenient and reliable means for operating the crankshaft, the same being easy to the feet and avoiding dead-points. In Fig. 4 the straps are shown asV made of stripsior plates of spring metal, which may be deflected downward by the feet and afterward straighten out, so as to conform to the motions of the crankshaft, which they rotate by the action of the rider.

' In order toadjust the gage or width of the velocipede,the crank-shaft is adapted to be lengthened or shortened. For this purpose said shaft is made in sections, which are connected by couplings S and secured by bolts T,

said couplings and the ends of the sections being threaded or unthreaded, as desired, both forms being shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show a chair-seat,U, whose support V has bifurcated or hooked ends W', whereby they vmay embrace the standard E and end of the frame A, and thus reliably sustain the seat, the latter, however, being readily removable from thest'andard and frame when so required.

The shafts of the driving and steering wheels C H have anti-friction journal-bearings X, which are secured to the frame of the velocipede and consist of a series of rollers, Y, which IOO are mounted on a box or support in annular form, so as to encircle the shafts and cause them to rotate with reduced friction.

The tires or treads Z of the wheels are formed of tarred rope, which rests in grooves in the rim of the wheels and is properly secured thereto, the material of which the treads are formed rendering them durable, owing to their water and insect proof nature, and causing them to take iirm hold of the ground or pavement without liability to slip, besides being inexpensive and running comparatively noiseless.

The arches D E F and frame A may be made of tubing or rods, as desired, and form a light and strong structure for the support of the parts for which they are intended.

While the straps are described as made ol' leather, spring meta-l, &c., prefer to employ the spring metal, so that the varying lengths ofthe treadle from the rotation of the crank are self accommodating, dead -points are Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a velocipede, a frame having arches rising therefrom and having their ends connected to opposite sides of the frame, and a spring supported on said arches and carryinga seat, all combined substantially as described.

2. In a velocipede, the frame A, having arches E and F, supporting the springplate L, with seat K thereon, andthe arch D, furnishing a bearing for shaft G,all combined substantially as described.

3. ln a velocipede, the frame A, having arches D E F thereon, the ends of said arches resting on said frame, a spring-plate having means for securing the same to the arches E and F, and the shaft G, having a bearing in said arch D and attached to the wheel H, all combined substantially as described. 4. ln a vclocipcde, the frame A, having coilsprings M, attached to opposite sides thereof, and the seat N, having its ends resting on the ends ofthe springs within thc coils, all substantially as described.

5. In a velocipede, metallic treadle-straps secured at one end to the crank-shaft and at the other to the frame, and of such length that when the crank to which the treadle-strap is secured is advanced the said strap is rightlined and taut, all substantially as described.

' GEO. MAY POWELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. Winnensnnm, A. l". GRANT. 

